Urijah Faber ready for whatever the UFC offers, feels a belt is within reach

In 33 pro fights, Urijah Faber has fought for a title or looked to defend one a staggering 16 times.

Frankly, though, he’s a bit sick of talking about title shots and giving his critics more ammo.

But with his body of work – including a win over Ivan Menjivar (25-10 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 157 – it’s hard to ignore that aspect of his career. Still, Faber (27-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) knows some fans grow tired of it.

“It seems like all the drama in my life is from reporters asking me funny questions,” the former WEC champion and UFC title challenger said. “But the reason I’ve had a lot of title shots is because I’ve been at the top of my weight class for 10 years now.”

Faber, who long ruled the WEC’s featherweight division, is 3-2 since his move to the UFC. He lost a bantamweight title fight to champion Dominick Cruz in 2011, and he also came up short in an interim title fight with Renan Barao this past summer.

On Saturday’s pay-per-view main card at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Faber got back in the win column. (He also got a definitive victory after the fighters’ first meeting in 2006 ended in a disqualification loss for Menjivar.) The victory, which came late in the first round via standing rear-naked choke, halted Menjivar’s 4-1 run in the organization. It also solidified Faber’s standing as the top 135-pounder behind Cruz and Barao.

“I know I’m barely away from having that belt,” he said. “I lost to Barao, who’s an incredible fighter. I broke my rib. He caught me with an amazing knee in the first round and broke my rib, and I didn’t get to get crazy in there a little bit. I didn’t get to get wild and open up a bit in there.

“… I actually had an easier time doing what I wanted to against [Cruz] than Barao. I didn’t know if it was the rib or what, but I’m ready for whatever.”

“Whatever” could mean a title shot. It could mean a title eliminator. Or it could just mean a high-profile bout in his next outing. Regardless, the 33-year-old “California Kid” believes time is still on his side.

“I keep getting better and better,” he said. “I get more comfortable with my standup. And it’s true that our sport is getting tougher and tougher. You’ve got these young kids that are growing up and eating and breathing everything MMA. I feel like I was one of those trendsetters, that I was like that as a little kid myself before there was even a UFC. So it’s great to see the new generation come in.

“But I’m right there and ready to do this.”

Although one of the most good-natured folks you’ll meet in MMA, Faber admits some of the pre-UFC 157 questioning irked him. He specifically pointed to the questions about his future, which prompted Faber to joke about a potential retirement prior to the fight.

However, he has no plans to call it quits anytime soon, he said.

“I was joking about having gray hairs and knee surgeries and stuff like that because people were asking me dumb questions about retiring,” he said. “Retiring? I feel great. I’m 33 years old and feel amazing.”